Teaching

Choosing Your Classroom Battles

By Liana Loewus — May 25, 2011 1 min read
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NYC Educator relates a story about a student asking to charge her cell phone in the classroom, and him refusing her request (cell phones are not allowed at school). But more recently, he writes, he saw another girl pull her phone charger out of the outlet at the end of class—and he let it slide.

This kid plugged it in when I wasn't watching and simply assumed she had an absolute right to do so. So how could I argue with her? Is it unfair? Am I lazy? Or is it that I just don't give a golly goshdarn? All of the above, I suppose.

Is NYC Educator encouraging rule-breaking behind his back by not saying anything to the girl? How often do you find yourself being inconsistent by omission when it comes to classroom management? What’s the criteria for choosing your battles?

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A version of this news article first appeared in the Teaching Now blog.